Support for bed-bottoms.



4 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Dec. l6, I902. T KLIPFEL SUPPORT FOR BED BUTTONS. (Application filed Jain. 13, 1902.)

No. 7l6,055.

(no l lludel.)

'No. 7|6,U55. Patented Dec. l6, I902.

T. KLIPFEL- SUPPORT FOR BEDBOTTOMS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheef 2.

(No Model.)

45 warns PL'ICRS cu, Mow-urn" msnmomu. u. c.

No. 7|6,055. Patented Dec. l6, I902.

T. KLIPFEL.

V SUPPORT FOR BED BOTTOIVIS.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1902.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Moiiel.)

m: amas PETERS co. PNOTO-LITMOV. WASNINGTON. o. c

T. KLIPFEL. SUPPORT FOR BED BOTTOMS.

(Application filed. Jan. 13, 1902.)

Patented [100.16, I902.

(No Model.) 4 sheets sheet 4.

@744 XL/%L Nrrnn TATES ATENT TI-IOMAS KLIPFEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION I/VIRE MATTRESS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SUPPORT FOR BED-BOTTOMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,055, dated December 16, 1902.

Application filed January 13, 1902. Serial No. 89,508. (No model.)

To all whone it may concern.-

Be it kn own that I, THOMAS KLIPFEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Bed-Bottoms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to supports for bedbottoms, and more particularly to elastic or flexible supports for the woven-wire bed-bottoms which are now in extensive use. These woven-wire bed-bottoms possess in themselves considerable longitudinal elasticity which comes into play when the bed is in use in supporting the weight of the occupant or occupants thereof, and in order to prevent too great a central dip thereof it has hitherto been found desirable to provide some manner of underlying support therefor. These supports have been of various kinds and have possessed varying degrees of efficiency; but the chief desideratum in a bed-bottom support of this character is to obtain a maximum amount of strength and resiliency or elasticity with a minimum weight and number of cooperating parts. i

The accomplishment of the above desideratum has been the principal object in view in my present invention, and in the embodiment thereof hereinafter described I believe this result has been secured in a practical and economical manner.

In carrying out my invention I employ, in

connection with the usual woven-Wire orsiinilar elastic bed-bottom, an underlying transverse support for the intermediate or central portion thereof, this support comprising, es-

sentially, a series of elastic cords or strands.

disposed longitudinally of the bedbottom frame, means for tensioning these strands by uniting laterally adjacent strands through clip devices which may slide longitudinally thereof, and a series of coil-springs supported upon and engaging said clip devices. In association with the foregoing elements I may also in accordance with my invention employ a series of transversely-disposed bars resting upon said strands and in themselvesforming seats or supports for the lower ends of the coilsprings,said bars directly overlying the clip devices and preferably being bound thereto by the lower end or turn of the springs.

A bed-bottom support embodying my presentinventiou in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a bedbottom frame, showing my invention in its simpler form applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l with one of the side bars of the bed-bottom frame broken away and illustrating the manner of mounting and securing the springs in the underlying support and the overlying elastic covering constituting the bed-bottom proper. Fig. 3 is a detail, partly in vertical section, illustrating the clip for uniting the strands of the support and furtherillustrating the manner of mounting and securing the base of the spring thereupon. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the series of transverse supporting-bars employed in association with the elements shown in Fig. 1. Fig 5 isa side elevation, partly broken away,- of Fig. 4, this view being similar to the view shown in Fig 2. Fig. 6 is a detail, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, transversely through one of the end members of the bed-bottom frame and showing the means of securing the supporting-strands at their ends in and to said frame. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one of the coil-springs, illustratingits manner of connection to the overlying bed-bottom and its manner of support at its lower end. Fig. 8 is a similar enlarged detail of the lower portion of Fig. 7, illustrating a slight modification in the means of uniting the spring at its lower end to the supportingbar upon which it rests. larged detail,in bottom plan view,showing the supporting-bar, the lower end of the spring, the clip and the strands, and the manner of assembling and uniting said parts. Fig. 10 is a side elevational detail, partly in vertical section, showing the parts illustrated at the lower end of Fig. 7 in a plane at right angles thereto; and Fig. II is a transverse vertical sectional view across the bed-bottom frame, showing a transverse row of springs in elevation and more particularlyillustrating their Fig. 9 is an en-' mode of connection to their underlying supports.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 11 designates the side members, and 12 the end members, of an ordinary rectangular bed-bottom frame. Secured in and to the top of the end members 12 in any suitable way is an ordinary woven-wire covering 13, (shown in Figs. 2, 5, 6, and 7,) constituting the bedbottom proper. Also secured in said end members of the frame are a series of pairs of cords or strands disposed longitudinally of the bedbottom frame and connecting the end members thereof below the bed-bottom 13. These several pairs of strands I have designated by the reference-numeral 14, the individual strands of each pair being further distinguished as 14 and 14: These strands are preferably simply coiled-wire cords which unite in themselves the desirable features of strength and lightness, combined with a certain degree of longitudinal elasticity. The members of each pair are respectively united laterally bya series ofclips,(designated by 15.) These clips, as herein shown, eonsisteach of a plain strip ofsheet metal bentinto the substantially oval form shown in Fig. 3, the adjacent ends of the strip being separated to provide an opening 15, whereby the clip may be passed over a pair of adjacent strands, so as to embrace and hold the latter in close parallel relation, as indicated 'in Fig. 3, this construction of clip and mode of association with the strands enabling the clip to be readily adjusted longitudinallyof the latter for the purpose of tensioning the strands, as well as to restrict or expand the area of the nest of springs constituting the direct intermediate elastic support for the bed-bottom. On either side of the series of clips 15 I have shown a similar series of clips, (designated by 16,)

which are similar in all respects to the clips 15, except that instead of being employed to connect the two strands of each pair they are so applied as to connect the adjacent strands of adjoining pairs. Resting upon each one of the clips 15 and 16 thus disposed is an ordinary coil-spring 17, the lower end of which (designated by 17) is carried be neath the upper surface of the clip and has its lower end bent upwardly and hooked through a vertical aperture in the clip, thereby locking the lower end of'the spring against any tendency to unseat the same laterally from its supporting-clip. The upper end of the spring is preferably secured in substantially fixed relation to the bed-bottom covering 13 by having the topmost turn of the coilthreaded through the crimped and coiled fabric of the covering, as shown in Fig. 7, after which the extreme end of the coil may be turned downwardly and inwardly to provide a hook against removal or displacement of the spring thus anchored. It will thus be observed that the coil-springs 17 are secured at their upper ends in the bed-bottom fabric or covering and at their lower ends in the loneration at the same time tending to vary the tension of the web-like supportconstituted by the strands united by the clips, as described.

In Figs. 4 and fiand in the detail Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, I have illustrated a slight modi fication of the principal construction already described, this modification residing, generally speaking, in the interposition of a series of transverse supporting-barslS, laid' above and across the longitudinal supportingstrands and forming seats for the coil-springs. These bars are preferably disposed between the lowermost complete turn of the coils and the upper surface of the tension-clips, as best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, each supporting-bar being engaged by all the springs in that trans verse row of springs under which it lies. As shown in Fig. 7, the lower end of the 'wire constituting the coil of the spring is looped downwardly and around the supporting-bar and the clip, as indicated at 17", passing preferably across the clip between the two strands engaged by the latter and having its extreme end portion bent upwardly into the body of the coil, as shown at 17, thereby forming a complete band tying the spring, the supportin g-bar,and the clip securely together against vertical separation, the strands themselves being likewise held against vertical separation from the overlying parts by reason of the inwardly-turned underlying ends of the clip, as best shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The construction last described I prefer to employ in connection with all of the springs except those lying nearest the side rails of the bedframe and constituting the end springs of the several transverse rows or series- In the case of these latter instead of carrying the downwardly-looped end of the coil entirely around the supporting-bar and its underlying clip, as shown in Fig. 7, I aperture the clip and the supporting-bar and carry the upwardly -'-turned end therethrough, as indicated at 17 in Figs. 8 and 11. The object of this latter construction, as will be readily understood, is to prevent longitudinal creeping of the supporting-bars, which would cause their ends to strike and rub against the side rails of the containing-frame in an objectionable manner. This latter construction not only prevents displacement of the supportingbars relatively to the springs carried thereby in a direction longitudinally of the frame, but in a direction laterally thereof also.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated in detail a simple and highly-efficient means which I have devised for anchoring the upper and lower ends of the strands and ofthe woven-wire fabric constituting the bed-bottom in the end rails of the bed-bottom frame. As herein shown, the end rail 12 is made in two parallel bars or strips, the inner of which I have designated as 12 and the outer as 12*. The

, meeting faces of these strips are provided with an inter-fitting tongue-and-groove construction, the tongue being shown as formed on the inner edge or face of the strip 12 at 12,and the groove being formed on the outer edge or face of the strip 12 at 12. Between the tongue and groove thus formed the ends of the strands 14 and 1 t as well as of the covering fabric 13, are secured, being clamped therein byscrews, (indicated at 12 uniting the two members 12 and 12 ofthe end rail. The end and side rails of the frame are conveniently and rigidly united by bolts 11,while as an additional means for securely uniting the parts 12"* and 12 of the end rails the ends of the .latter'may be joined by sheet-metal or other straps or cleats, as shown at 12 in Fig. 5.

The above-described construction permits the easy removal of both the covering fabric and its support from the frame by the simple loosening or withdrawal of the end strips 12", at the same time providing a secure and effective anchoring device for securing said parts in place when in use.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction and relative arrangement of parts hereinabove described and shown, since itis obvious that the same might be considerably modified, if desired, to effect the same results in substantially the same way.

I claim-- 1. In a bed-bottom support, the combination with the bed-bottom frame, of a series of longitudinal strands secured at their ends to the end rails of the frame, a series of clips connecting laterally-adjacent strands, and a series of coil-springs superposed upon and at their lower ends embracing said clips and adapted to engage the fabric covering constituting the bed-bottom at their upper ends, substantially as described.

2. In a bed-bottom support, the combination with the bed-bottom frame, of a series of longitudinal strands secured at their ends to the end rails of the frame, a series of longitudinally-slidable clips connecting laterallyadjacent strands, and a series of coil-springs at their lower ends embracing said clips and adapted to engage the fabric covering constituting the bed-bottom at their upper ends, substantially as described.

3. In a bed-bottom support, the combination with the bed-bottom frame, of a series of longitudinal strands secured at their ends to the end rails of the frame, a series of clips connecting laterally-adjacent strands,a transverse supporting-bar overlying and resting upon said clips, and a series of coil-springs seated upon said supporting-bar and embracing the latter and the underlying clips and at their upper ends engaging the fabric covering constituting the bed bottom, substan tially as described.

4:. In a bed-bottom support, the combination with the bed-bottom frame, of a series of pairs of longitudinal strands secured at their ends to the end rails of the frame, atransverse rowof clips connecting the pairsof each strand, a transverse row of clips connecting adjacent strands of adjoining pairs, a transverse supporting-bar overlying and resting upon each row of clips, and coil-sprin gs seated upon said supporting-bars and having their lower extremities looped around and embracing said bars and clips, substantially as described.

5. In a bed-bottom support, the combination wit-h the bed-bottom frame, of a series of longitudinal strands secured at their ends to the end rails of the frame, a plurality of transverse rows of clips connecting laterally-adjacent strands, a transverse supporting-bar overlying and resting upon each-row of clips,

- and a series of coil-springs seated upon said supporting-bars, certain of said springs having their lower extremities looped around and embracing said bars and clips, and one of said springs having its lower end passed beneath and thence upwardly through apertures in its associate bar and clip,whereby said spring, bar and clip are all interlocked, substantially as described.

6. In a bed-bottom support, the combination with the bed-bottom frame, of a series of longitudinal strands secn red at their ends to the end rails of the frame, a plurality of transverse rows of clips connecting laterally-adjacent strands, a transverse supporting-bar overlying and resting upon each row of clips, and a series of coil-springs seated uponsaid supporting-bars,theintermediate springs having their lower extremities looped around and embracing said bars and clips, and the springs at the ends of said bars having their lower ends passed beneath and thence upwardly through apertures in their respectivebars and clips,whereby said springs, bars and clips are all interlocked, substantially as described.

THOMAS KLIPFEL.

Witnesses:

SAMUEL N. POND, FREDERICK C. GOODWIN. 

